Cervical Cancer

Data and Statistical Reports

Of women born today, 1 in 142 will be diagnosed with cancer of the cervix during their lifetime. Nationally, 11,270 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,070 will die due to cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer tends to occur in midlife. Half of the women diagnosed with cervical cancer are between 35 and 55 years of age. Over 20 percent of cervical cancer is diagnosed in women over age 65.

Nearly all women with cervical cancer have human papillomavirus (HPV). About 10 to 30 strains are directly linked with pre-cancers or cancer of the cervix. HPV is a virus with over 100 different types. Women with an abnormal Pap result may be tested for HPV to see if they have a high-risk type. There are two HPV vaccines available to females 9-26 years of age. The vaccine can protect women from two types of HPV infection that causes about 70 percent of the cases of cervical cancer.

Other possible risk factors include giving birth to many children, having many sexual partners, having first sexual intercourse at a young age, smoking cigarettes, oral contraceptive use, and a weakened immune system.